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Porter likes having Grossman, Altuve atop lineup

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Altuve's RBI triple 1:14

4/21/13: Jose Altuve triples over the head of right fielder Ryan Raburn to bring home Marwin Gonzalez as the Astros cut the lead to 4-3

By Brian McTaggart
/
MLB.com |

BOSTON -- The top of the Astros' lineup has looked different over the last couple of games with rookie Robbie Grossman in the leadoff spot in place of Jose Altuve, who was moved to the No. 2 spot in the batting order beginning Wednesday.

Grossman, who made his Major League debut Wednesday, has had a high on-base percentage throughout the Minor Leagues, which would be ideal in the leadoff spot for the Astros if he can continue to do that at the Major League level.

"It changes the dynamics, because you always want to have guys at the top of the lineup that get on base," manager Bo Porter said. "Grossman did a great job at Spring Training. Every time we put him in a game, positive things happened. He's a guy who's led off his whole career, and to have him and Altuve at the top of the lineup, getting on base for the middle of the lineup, it gives us a greater opportunity to score runs."

When asked if second was the ideal spot for a contact hitter like Altuve, Porter said: "I would love to hit Altuve one through nine, but I don't think the other team will let me."

Grossman was a career .267 hitter with a .379 on-base percentage in 511 career Minor League games, while Altuve entered Thursday tied for first in the American League with 30 hits.

"If we can find someone to hit in the one hole who's going to get on base and you have a couple of guys at the bottom of the lineup who can put the ball in play consistently, now we have three guys that can get on base in front of Altuve, who's not just one of the better hitters in our league but one of the best hitters in the game," Porter said. "The more guys you get on base in front of him, it creates chances to score runs."